Water is essential to people, ecosystems and food production. In some sourcing regions, water resources are under increasing pressure due to climate change, growing demand and local environmental conditions.

At Salud we recognise that responsible sourcing also means understanding these challenges and supporting collaborative efforts where we can make a meaningful contribution.

Supporting collective action in the Ica River Basin

One example is the Ica River Basin in Peru, an important agricultural region where water availability is a particular concern. The Ica Valley, located on Peru’s Pacific coast, receives very little rainfall and depends largely on groundwater.

Agriculture has brought important economic opportunities and employment to the region. At the same time, pressure on water resources has increased. Addressing these challenges requires collaboration across the whole catchment, from agricultural production in the Ica Valley to upstream high-Andean communities in Huancavelica.

Through SIFAV, the Sustainability Initiative Fruit and Vegetables, Salud participates in collective water stewardship efforts in the region. Together with other partners, we support work that strengthens responsible water management, local engagement and practical action.

Collaboration is essential

Long-term water security cannot be achieved by one company alone. It requires collaboration between producers, local communities, public institutions, civil society organisations and international value-chain partners.

In recent years, the initiative has brought together a broad group of stakeholders to build trust, improve understanding of shared water risks and identify opportunities for collective action.

Progress in 2025

In 2025, the initiative took an important step forward through the Second Participatory Workshop of the Ica River Basin. The workshop brought together representatives from high-Andean communities, agro-exporting companies, public institutions, international organisations and European value-chain partners.

Participants visited practical examples of water stewardship in both the Ica Valley and the upper basin, including:

• wastewater reuse for irrigation
• artificial aquifer recharge
• water reservoirs
• pasture improvement
• alpaca management
• wetland restoration

An important outcome of the workshop was the agreement to support the development of a Collective Action Platform for the Ica River Basin, including the creation of an initial Grupo Impulsor. This group will help guide the next steps, maintain momentum and support more coordinated action across the basin.

Looking ahead

The initiative will continue to focus on strengthening local leadership, improving technical capacity, maintaining inclusive participation, building political support and developing a more financially sustainable model for long-term water stewardship.

For Salud, this work is about being part of a wider solution in a region facing shared water challenges. We are proud to contribute to this collaborative effort and will continue to support responsible water stewardship where we can make a meaningful contribution.